Proposals for new homes north of Harlow are back on the agenda, following the publication of the Secretary of State's response to inspectors' recommendations.

Her proposals for Harlow include 16,000 new homes - an increase of 2,500 on the number previously proposed - but these include 'urban extensions' in Epping Forest and East Hertfordshire, to the north, east and (on a smaller scale) the south and west.

She proposes a review of the Green Belt north of Harlow, providing for at least 10,000 more homes by 2031. The review will set the long term limits for development north of Harlow.

The proposals also include keeping the principle of Harlow's green wedges, including in the new urban extensions; improved retail provision, further and higher education, and more jobs related to Stansted Airport; and better access between Harlow, London, Stansted and Cambridge. Harlow's current transport and congestion problems are recognised as needing further work.

The Secretary of State's proposals are now subject to consultation until Friday 9 March 2007. In a joint statement with Harlow's MP and representatives of the other two parties on Harlow Council, Liberal Democrat leader Chris Millington said:

"The draft Government response is an improvement on the Inspector's Report - particularly the re-instatement of Harlow North.

We have, on a cross-party basis, long argued that development north of Harlow is in Harlow's best interests, reduces development pressure in Harlow and gives us the best opportunity to improve our infrastructure.

We will be consulting Harlow residents during the 12 week consultation and we will continue to work together on a cross party basis to get the best deal for Harlow. We wish to do this by working co-operatively with our neighbours.

We intend to press the Government very strongly to specify housing levels north of Harlow and to completely remove development to the south and west of Harlow. However, we welcome the re-statement of the commitment to Harlow's green spaces and the increased commitment to 35% affordable housing."